Latvia has opened its first multisensory day centre for people with dementia, “Sāras dārzs”, offering a new and previously little-used approach to supporting people living with the condition, as well as providing much-needed respite for their families. The centre was established by the "Maltas Ordeņa palīdzības dienests" with financial support from the Society Integration Foundation. Within the framework of the project, the service is currently provided free of charge, and the centre can welcome 15–20 visitors per day.
An estimated 35,000 to 45,000 people in Latvia live with dementia, yet the number of officially diagnosed cases is significantly lower. This means that many individuals and their families face the challenges of the disease without timely support and are often left to cope on their own.
The day centre is not a medical institution, but rather a safe and calm environment where people with dementia can spend their day participating in activities adapted to their needs, socialising, and receiving professional care. The centre’s team includes rehabilitation specialist and social worker Liene Lizdika, caregivers, and volunteers experienced in working with people affected by dementia.
The centre’s key innovation is the Snoezelen multisensory approach – a method of creating activities and environments tailored to each individual. By using light, sound, scents, touch, and movement, the approach helps reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance well-being for people living with dementia. Depending on individual needs, activities may focus on relaxation and anxiety reduction, or on stimulating the senses and maintaining everyday skills.
“The innovation lies not only in working with the person but also with their family. Dementia affects everyone – not just the individual. It is equally important to support both the person living with the illness and their relatives, who often experience physical and emotional burnout. That is why the project also places strong emphasis on psycho-emotional and mentoring support for family members, helping them accept the diagnosis and learn how to live with it,” explains Inese Motte, Project Manager and Secretary General of the Sovereign Order of Malta Relief Service.
The project is implemented in cooperation with leading experts in the field – Kristīne Šneidere, senior researcher at Riga Stradiņš University, and neurologist Zane Anna Litauniece, strengthening the quality and sustainability of the project’s approach.
Although the centre has only recently started welcoming its first clients, demand for such a service is already evident, demonstrating the need for community-based, person-centred solutions in dementia care in Latvia.
The social innovation – the “Sarah’s Garden” day centre for people with dementia – has been developed within the ESF+ project “Support for New Approaches in the Provision of Community-Based Social Services,” implemented by the Society Integration Foundation.
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